299 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PAS

Azra interrupted in and Raigon thought that he would defend Zoe. But he did not.

"Lady Thana should be brought to the dungeons.  But I'm afraid she was right, your Highness. It was the foremost reason why the Three picked this place and inhabited it. This is where the Tree of Egdelwon is."

"I thought you were with me, Azra." Raigon replied as he swallowed hard. He knew how serious this was and he didn't expect Azra to side with him as he was always an upholder of the law. But he was hurt hearing it from him.

"I am with you, your Highness. You know my faithfulness to you and to Her Highness.  But this is unjustifiable to the traditional laws of the land. Who knows what could happen to Terra? You remember the Great Bloodbath that happened eighteen years ago." 

She gently lay Zoe down at the foot of the Tree as his hands suddenly went weak from his recollection. 

It was true that they weren't just looking for treasures. But they were also looking for the Tree. For dubious reasons, the outsiders somehow learned that the Tree was situated there. 

Fortunately, they weren't able to see it as they have defended the City with all their might. 

"But it has no connection with Zoe eating it just now. Or is it?"

Raigon closed his eyes as his palms fled to his face while he paced back and forth.

"The life of this land is in the Tree, your Highness. And Lady Asha has just defiled it. I'm afraid this would not be put under the rug. She might get executed at this rate."

Azra continued to explain to Raigon, hoping he would understand how dreadful Zoe's sin is to the whole land.

He had allowed their little offenses of the law when they were still unmarried. But not with this. He could even stop being faithful to him if he would push on just letting this pass, especially that he is the Crowned Prince and the next King of the land.

Raigon knelt down and pressed her hands firmly on Zoe's. Azra doesn't even need to say it. He knows what this costs as he was the first and foremost protector of the land. Zoe should receive the capital punishment and it broke his heart to pieces.

"She cannot die or I will die with her."

He uttered out loud as he cannot see his life without her by his side. He picked her up and brought her to his Chamber, with tears not leaving his eyes.

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Meanwhile, while Zoe was in limbo, she saw different scenarios around her, all pertaining to her life. Some were blurry and some were clear. It seemed like those who were clear are the ones which she desired to see.

"Mama.. Papa.."

She stretched out her hand to touch the scene where she last saw her parents. And it was when they had a vacation in Lord Howe Island eighteen years ago. As she touched it, memories came flashing inside her and she saw things that she didn't understand before.

"You told us that Mrs. Gong is here. Why isn't she here now?" 

It was her mother who was talking to someone on her phone. The whole family was at a hotel room and she even saw herself playing with Cayden while the family was unpacking their stuff. Her father was not around as he seemed to be talking with the management about their reservation downstairs. 

After she hung up, her knees went weak and she stumbled at one of the bunk beds. 

"We'll see her soon. Don't worry. Maybe you could try going back to -" Uncle Bo stopped in mid sentence as she shushed him in silence.

She glanced around the room before responding to him. "Please be quiet. You know my husband doesn't know about it."

"Yeah, right. And thanks for letting your older brother know." Uncle Bo smirked as he looked at a brochure of the island.

"So the Ball's Pyramid is just near here. Maybe we could check it out. She could be there." He suggested it to her, making her shake her head in disdain.

"I only agreed with you because I have a huge debt to pay you. Thank you for accepting me into your family when I don't know where else to go."

Zoe who was watching the whole scene unconsciously touched her parted lips. 'Does that mean that Mother and Uncle Bo are not really relatives? Is Uncle Bo's family perhaps the one who adopted her after she ran away from Terra?'

She continued to eavesdrop their conversation as the effect of the fruit was still lingering on her.

"If we cannot see her here, I will go there. But only me. Just stay here and watch the family."

"All right. All right." Uncle Bo lifted his hands in surrender. Her mother went to her little self and lifted her into her arms and embraced her. Her little self giggled in delight.

Zoe's lips trembled as she clearly remembered that during her childhood days. "Mama…" 

She approached and tried to touch her smiling face, but her hand just went through.

As her heart was warmed in the light of her mother being alive, her ears caught on Uncle Bo talking with someone on the phone. 

"Yes, we will proceed on as planned. Get your men and their weapons ready. If they defend the tree with their life, then so be it. My so-called sister will lead us there."

Zoe's feet suddenly froze, all the hairs on her body stood up as she just realized what happened during the Great Bloodbath. 

'My Uncle was the instigator of the Bloodbath? And he used my mother to get there!'

Zoe's jaw clenched as her blood boiled up against the person that raised her up as a child. Tears were streaming down her face.

"He should have just let me die with them! Or was he too greedy to even be my guardian so he can get my father's hospital as well?!"

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The past should remain in the past. Otherwise, it can destroy your future. Live your life for what tomorrow has to offer. Not for what yesterday has taken away.